Bedpan rinser apparatus

ABSTRACT

The bedpan rinser apparatus is connected in the flush pipe between the flush valve and the toilet bowl, and all three parts are arranged in vertical alignment with the center line of the toilet bowl. The bedpan rinser includes a ball type valve mounted on the front side of the flush pipe with a spray arm and spout attached thereto. The spray arm is movable vertically and horizontally from the direct front side of the flush pipe to control the ball valve and open and close a diverter flow passage extending through the ball valve to the spray arm from the main flow passage through the flush pipe.

United States Patent Filliung et al.

[451 Dec. 24, 1974 BEDPAN RINSER APPARATUS Inventors: Jacques J.Filliung, Chicago; Axel B.

Nelson, Mount Prospect; Henry R. Billeter, Deerfield, all of I11.

Sloan Valve Company, Franklin Park, Ill.

Filed: Oct. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 408,376

Assignee:

US. Cl 4/7, 137/615, 137/616.7, 251/352, 4/1

Int. Cl. A47k 3/22, A47k 11/08 Field of Search 4/6, 7, 145, 10, 191,192, 4/1; 137/615-6167; 251/352 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,956,285 10/1960 Jewel 4/7 3,419,911 H1969 Wood 4/10 3,629,872 12/1971Parkison 4/1 Primary Examinerl-lenry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Kinzer, Plyer, Dorn & McEachran [57] ABSTRACT The bedpan rinserapparatus is connected in the flush pipe between the flush valve and thetoilet bowl, and all three parts are arranged in vertical alignment withthe center line of the toilet bowl. The bedpan rinser includes a balltype valve mounted on the front side of the flush pipe with a spray armand spout attached thereto. The spray arm is movable vertically andhorizontally from the direct front side of the flush pipe to control theball valve and open and close a diverter flow passage extending throughthe ball valve to the spray arm from the main flow passage through theflush pipe.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1?. 855,640

was: 1 (if 2 BEDPAN RINSER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHospital bedpan rinser apparatus customarily comprise a diverter casingextending from the right hand side wall of the flush pipe so that anoffset elbow was necessary in the flush pipe so that the spray arm couldmove vertically and horizontally directly above the center line of thetoilet bowl without being interfered with by the toilet seat whenraised. This offset presented an unsightly appearance to the apparatusand the diverter apparatus also introduced an unwanted restriction tothe free flow of water through the flush pipe because the diverter valvemechanism was located in the direct flow passage between the flush valveand the toilet bowl.

The diverter apparatus was also somewhat bulky and costly to producesince it consisted of numerous parts which had to be precisely machinedto properly fit without leakage, and rugged enough to stand up underhard usage in a hospital.

It is the principal object of the invention to design a new and improvedbedpan rinsing apparatus which overcomes the above disadvantages, whichcomprises fewer parts, is economical to produce, is streamlined inappearance and reliable in operation.

The bedpan apparatus is primarily for use in hospitals for rinsingbedpans after they have been used by a patient, and the waste matter isemptied into the toilet bowl. The apparatus is adapted for connection toconventional plumbing fixtures such as toilet bowls and direct connectedflush valves. It is arranged to divert a portion of the water flowingfrom the flush valve into the toilet bowl and into the apparatus forrinsing the bedpan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention the novelbedpan rinsing apparatus is more streamlined in appearance and lessconspicuous. It can be installed on existing flush valve and toilet bowlcombination utilizing the standard roughing-in measurements. Because thespray arm is arranged on the direct front side of the flush tube abovethe toilet bowl it is shorter in length and more readily accessible fora nurse to grasp and operate. Additionally the complete installationcomprises fewer plumbing connections and is more rigid and thereforeless liable to leakage. The fewer protruding parts makes the device easyto clean and therefore more sanitary.

The diverter valve member consists of a spherical member in the natureof a ball valve to which the spray arm is attached. The spray arm ismovable both vertically and horizontally in a slot of the valve casing.In the vertical position it closes a diverter passage from the flushtube into the spray arm, and in the horizontal position opens thepassage. The ball valve and its casing are supported on the front sideof the flush tube and project only slightly into the flush tube insuringa full flow through the flush tube from the flush valve into the toiletbowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of thebedpan diverter apparatus connected to a conventional flush type toiletbowl and flush valve;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the spray arm moved to its sprayposition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the diverter valve apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a further modification;

FIG. 7 is a showing of the spray arm and spout; while FIGS. 8 and 9 aredetails of the ball valve cover and support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a conventionalflush type toilet 5 which is provided with a flush valve 6 such as aSloan flush valve connected by the flush pipe 7 to the toilet bowl 5 forflushing the same whenever the handle 8 on the Hush valve 6 is actuated.The inlet water supply line is connected to the control stop 9 and anopen front toilet seat 10 is hinged to the top of the toilet bowl 5. Avacuum breaker 11 is connected in the flush pipe 7 below the flush valve6 to prevent back siphonage. The parts enumerated so far are of commonand well known construction.

The bedpan rinsing apparatus is indicated generally at 12 and isinterposed in the flush pipe 7 between the flush valve 6 and the toiletbowl 5. The apparatus includes a spray arm 13 having a spout 14 at itsend and when used for bedpan rinsing the toilet seat 10 is lifted asshown in FIG. 2, and the spray arm 13 swung downward from its verticalposition to the horizontal position above the bedpan 15 as indicated inFIG. 2. In this rinsing position whenever the flush valve handle 8 isoperated to flush the toilet bowl, a portion of the flush water flowingthrough the flush pipe 7 is diverted by the apparatus 12 through thespray arm 13 and spout 14 into the bedpan 15. This bedpan rinsing actiontakes place desirably at the same time the toilet bowl is being flushed.

It is to be particularly noted, according to the present invention, thatthe flush valve 6, the flush pipe 7 and the spray arm 13, as well as thediverter apparatus 12, are all arranged and supported in direct verticalalignment with the center line of the toilet bowl 5, and that the sprayarm 13 in its vertical position is parallel with the front side of theflush pipe 6 and in its horizontal position projects directly from thefront side of the flush pipe over the center of the toilet bowl. Thiscompact arrangement of the parts makes the installation streamlined inappearance and comprises fewer parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these show the detailed construction ofthe diverter valve apparatus 12 as a unitary structure. A casing 20,preferably a casting, is coupled at its upper inlet end 21 to the flushtube 7 and at its lower outlet end 22 to the flush tube leading into thetop spud connection 23 of the toilet bowl 5. At its bottom end casing 20is provided with a slight restriction 24 in the path of the water flowthrough casing 20. This restriction 24 insures that a slight amount ofback pressure will be generated to force a portion of the flow throughthe casing 20 into the diverter apparatus, without appreciably affectingthe water flow into the toilet bowl 5. This action occurs whenever thespray arm is in its down position over the bedpan 15 as shown in FIG. 2.The casing 20 is also provided with an internal threaded boss forattachment of a supporting bracket 26 upon the rear wall surface tobetter secure the diverter apparatus 12 and prevent swiveling andloosening of the plumbing connections when subjected to rough usage.

Supported on the front side of casing 20 and arranged on the forward orfront side of the flush pipe 7 is a spherical member constituting a ballvalve 30 which is revolvable vertically and is in slidable snugengagement with a semi-circular or curved wall 31 formed in the frontside of the casing 20. This curved dish-shaped wall 31 projects onlyslightly within the flow passage through the diverter casing 20 andtherefore does not restrict the free flow of water therethrough to anyappreciable extent. The curved wall 31 has upper located diverterpassage 32 extending from the flow passage through the casing 20 to thesurface of the ball valve 30. The spray arm 13 is supported in the ballvalve 30 at its end 33, as by welding, and is in an off-center positionso that when the spray arm 13 is in the vertical position as shown inFIG. 3, the spray arm is enabled to be positioned closer alongside theflush tube 7, and thereby provide a more streamlined appearance to theinstallation. The ball valve member 30 is clamped in position againstthe curved wall 31 by a cover plate 35 see FIG. 8, fastened by bolts 36screwed into the front of casing 20. A sealing gasket 37 is interposedbetween casing 20 and cover plate 35. The cover plate 35 has an innercurved surface 38 against which the ball valve 30 is confined andslidable.

At its front end the surface 38 is slotted at 39 through which slot thespray arm 13 projects as best seen in FIG. 8. The slot 39 is widened asshown around the ball valve 30. The upper end of slot 39 serves as astop 40 for the spray arm 13 when in its uppermost or vertical position,while the lower end 41 of the slot serves as a stop for the spray arm inits horizontal position. The ball valve member 30 has a passage 42drilled at an angle therein extending from the end 33 of the spray arm13 to the inner portion of surface 38. The end passage 42 is surroundedby a sealing O-ring 43 riding against the curved surface 38. A mainsealing O-ring 45 is recessed in casing 20 around the outer slidingsurface of ball valve 30 to prevent leakage outward between the ballvalve and the casing. A pair of oppositely disposed pivot screws 46 and47 are threaded into the side of ball valve 30 and pivot in the coverplate 35. These screws are for the purpose of confining the movement ofthe spray arm 13 to an up and down direction and prevent any axialrotation of the spray arm which would direct the spout 14 out of thearea of the bedpan 15.

In the operation of the apparatus the nurse first raises the toilet seat10, places the bedpan 15 in position in the toilet bowl 5, and thengrasps the spout 14 and lowers the spray arm 13 to its horizontal'position'above the bedpan as depicted in FIG. 2. She then trips thehandle 8 of the flush valve 6 to cause the flushing water to flowthrough flush pipe 7 into the'toil'et bowl 5. Dueto the fact that thespray arm 13 has been lowered and rotated 90 until it is stopped by theslot edge 41, a portion of the water flow is divertedthrough' the ballvalve 30 into the spray arm to rinse the bedpan. The path of thediverted flow extends through diverter passage 32, O-ring 43, andthrough passage 42 into the spray arm. The flow through the diverterpassages is sufficient to provide a thorough cleansing of the bedpan,without however detracting from the full flow through the casing 20 intothe toilet bowl. The slight restriction 24 on the outlet end of casing20 insures thatsufficient back pressure is generated to cause theportion of the flow to be diverted into the spray arm. When the nursehas finished rinsing the bedpan the spray arm 13 is raised to itsvertical position, which action rotates the ball valve 30 to theposition shown in FIG. 3, resulting in the diverter passage 32 beingblocked by the ball valve and with the O-ring 43 and passage 42 in thedown position as shown.

It will be observed that with the spray arm 13 located directly on thefront side of the flush tube, this makes it more convenient andaccessible to the nurse and also somewhat shorter in length. The ballvalve and its supporting member renders the unit desirably streamlinedin appearance, and by slightly offsetting the spray arm in the ballvalve, moves the spray arm closer to the flush tube in the verticalshutoff position. The frictional contact of the O-rings 43 and 45between the ball valve 30 and the curved surface 31 is sufficient topreclude the spray arm 13 from drooping or becoming loose due to itsweight.

A further advantage of the arrangement of the elements described is thatthis installation may be made to an existing flush valve and toilet bowlcombination without change because the standard roughing-in dimensionsof the water supply piping and the flush valve remain the same and thediverter apparatus may be readily inserted in the flush piping with nooffsets. Fewer plumbing connections are made and the smooth, clean linesof the arrangement add to the sanitary aspect as well as the appearanceof the entire installation.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the solidcurved wall 31 of FIG. 3 has been replaced by a similar dish-shapedcurved wall 50 which may be formed of rubber or other flexible material,including plastic material. The curved wall 50 has the diverter passage51 formed in it, and around the curved wall 50 a raised perimeterportion 52 fits into a circular groove formed in casing 20 and serves tohold the curved wall 50 in place as well as providing a leakproof gasketto prevent outward leakage. The ball valve 53, which also may be made ofsuitable plastic material or hard rubber, fits snuggly against thecurved wall 50 and is in slidable contact therewith. The ball valve 53is clamped in place by the clamping bracket 35 as seen in FIG. 8. Adiverter passage 54 through the ball valve 53 connects the spray arm 13with the flexible wall 50. The spray arm 13 is suitably fixed in theball valve 53 and is slightly offset from the center of the ball inorder to place the spray arm 13 closer to the flush tube 7 in the' uppervertical valve-closed position of the spray arm as seen in FIG. 5. Thefrictional contact between the flexible curved surface 50 and the ballvalve 53 is such that the weight of the spray arm will not result in anydroop or falling down of the spray arm from its vertical position andalso holds the spray arm in any intermediate position in which it may beplaced. The advantages of the foregoing modification are that no specialsealing elements such as O-rings and gaskets are needed, the circularflexible wall 50 serving all these purposes. In this modification thestop for the upper limit of the spray arm 13 is the upper end 40 of slot39 and the lower limit is the bottom stop 41. It is also contemplatedthat the slot 39 conform to the thickness of the spray arm so that thespray arm can only move up and down within the confines of the slot 39and not sideways. The widening of the seat as seen in FIG. 8 is notnecessary in this configuration.

Referring now to the further modification shown in FIG. 6, in thisarrangement the casing 20 has a threaded outlet 60 upon which thecoupling 61 is threaded to clamp the semi-circular clamping cover 62against the casing 20 opening 60. The cover plate 62 supports the ballvalve 63 and holds it in place against the curved surface 64 formed inthe casing 20. An 0- ring 65 seals the contacting surfaces and serves tofrictionally hold the spray arm 13 in position. A suitable gasket 66also prevents leakage outward. The slot 67 within which the spray armmoves up and down confines the movement of the spray arm to an up anddown direction only and between the stops 68 and 69. The diverterpassages 70 and 71 are shown as being in alignment in FIG. 6 with thespray arm in the down or bedpan rinsing position so that water flow cantake place through the spray arm when the flush valve 6 is operated.Shut off of the water flow is achieved when the spray arm is moved intothe vertical position and the diverter passages 70 and 71 are out ofalignment.

A cause of concern in prior bedpan rinser apparatus is that after thespray arm was moved into its vertical position and the flush valve shutoff, an unwanted dribble and residual expulsion of water occurred fromthe spout 14 of the spray arm. Since the spray arm is in its uppervertical position, the dribble would run down and fall upon the toiletseat and the back of the toilet bowl 5, creating an unsanitary conditionand necessitating a clean up. In order to combat this undesirable, messyproblem the novel spray spout 14 shown in FIG. 7 has been designed. Thespout 14 comprises a casing 75 having an annular opening 76 within whicha spray disc 77 is fixed. The disc 77 has a shank 78 threaded into therear of casing 75. A piston 79 is slidable in the opening 76 and has arubber cup 80 engaging the side walls 76. The inner walls of the piston79 are provided with serrations 81 adapted to engage the spray disc 77whenever the piston 79 is projected outward by water flow through thespout. A return spring 82 restores the piston 79 when the water ceasesto flow. Due to the fact that the rear side of the piston 79 in itsrestored position closes off the flow passage 83 in the casingimmediately after water flow ceases, no after dribble or residual watercan take place out of the spout. Moreover, since the piston 79 isretracted, a wide space 84 now exists between the serrations 81 and thedisc 77 inhibiting the formation of lime deposits or clogging debris.

We claim:

I. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, atoilet bowl, a flush valve for flushing said toilet bowl and a flushpipe connecting said flush valve with said toilet bowl, said flush valveand said flush pipe being arranged in vertical axial alignment and withthe center line of said toilet bowl, a diverter valve mechanisminterposed in said flush pipe and having an operating portion arrangedon the front side of said flush pipe, said operating portion including aball type valve having a spray arm projecting therefrom from the frontside of said flush pipe and movable between a vertical position from thefront side of said flush pipe to a horizontal position directly over thecenter portion of said toilet bowl, means in said ball valve fordiverting a portion of the flushing water through said spray arm whenthe spray arm is moved into the horizontal position and said flush valveis operated, means in said ball valve for shutting off the flow of waterthrough said spray arm when the spray arm is moved into the verticalposition, and means for supporting said operating portion, said sprayarm, and said ball valve entirely from the front side of said flushpipe.

2. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, atoilet bowl, a flush valve for flushing said toilet bowl and a flushpipe connecting said flush valve with said toilet bowl, said flush pipebeing in direct vertical alignment between said flush valve and thecenter line of said toilet bowl, together with a diverter valvemechanism interposed in said flush pipe between said flush valve andsaid toilet bowl, said diverter valve mechanism being mounted on thefront side of said flush pipe and including a ball valve and a spray armattached thereto extending from the front side of said flush pipe, saidspray arm movable from a vertical position on the front side of saidflush pipe to a horizontal position directly over the center of saidtoilet bowl, and means in said ball valve for diverting a portion of thewater flow from said flush pipe into said spray arm in the horizontalposition of said spray arm, and for shutting off the water flow in saidspray arm in the vertical position of said spray arm.

3. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, aflush valve for flushing a toilet bowl and a flush pipe connecting theflush valve and said toilet bowl, said flush pipe being in direct axialand vertical alignment between said flush valve and on a line throughthe center of the toilet bowl, a diverter valve mechanism supported uponthe front side of said flush pipe including a rotatable valve memberhaving a spray arm projecting from the front side thereof and from thefront of said flush pipe, said spray arm effective to move said valvemember to a position where a portion of the water flow through saidflush tube is diverted through the spray arm into the toilet bowl, andto a position where the water flow is shut off, and sealing meansbetween said valve member and said flush pipe.

4. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, atoilet bowl, a flush valve for flushing said toilet bowl and a flushpipe connecting said flush valve and said toilet bowl, said flush valveand said flush pipe being in vertical axial alignment and in line withthe center line of said toilet bowl, a diverter valve mechanisminterposed in said flush pipe and in alignment therewith, said divertervalve mechanism including a casing having a ball valve member rotatabletherein located at the front side of said flush pipe, and a spray armattached to the ball valve member on the front side thereof for openingand closing said ball valve member, said spray arm movable from avertical to a horizontal position from the front side of said flushpipe, said casing having a slot therein through which said spray armprojects and is movable therein, said slot providing a stop at each endfor limiting the opening and closing movement of said spray arm.

5. A bedpan rinsing apparatus for use with a flush valve and a toiletbowl and installed in a flush pipe extending between the flush valve andthe toilet bowl, said flush valve and said flush pipe being arranged invertical axial alignment and with the center line of said toilet bowl,said bedpan rinsing apparatus comprising a casing supported in saidflush pipe and having a main flow passage in vertical alignment withsaid flush pipe, and a diverter flow passage extending through the frontwall of said casing, a spherical ball valve supported on the outside andthe front wall of said casing, said ball valve having a flow passagetherein, a spray arm supported on said ball valve and having a flowpassage therein connected to the flow passage in said ball valve, saidspray arm effective to rotate said ball valve in said casing to aposition to align the flow passage in said ball valve with the diverterflow passage in said casing, said spray arm also effective to rotatesaid ball valve to a position to shut off the flow passages between saidball valve and said casing.

6. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim in which the sprayarm is movable to a horizontal position to rotate the ball valve andalign the casing diverter flow passage with the flow passage in the ballvalve and cause a spray to be emitted from the spray arm.

7. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which thespray arm is movable to a vertical position to rotate the ball valve toshut off the passage between the diverter flow passage and the ballvalve passage.

8. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which thespray arm is movable to a horizontal position to rotate the ball valveand align the casing diverter flow passage with the flow passage in theball valve and cause a spray to be emitted from the spray arm, and inwhich the spray arm is movable to a vertical position to rotate the ballvalve to shut off the flow passages between the diverter flow passageand the ball valve passage.

9. The bedpan rising apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which leakproofsealing means are provided between the ball valve and the casing in allrotated positions of the ball valve, said sealing means comprising adishshaped member supported in said casing between said casing and saidball valve and within which said ball valve is rotatable, said sealingmember having a diverter passage therein which is closed in the verticalposition of said spray arm.

10. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which thecasing provides an unobstructed flow of water through the flush pipe,and the casing diverter passage extends from the front side of thecasing to the ball valve.

11. In a bedpan rinser apparatus supported upon a plumbing pipeincluding a casing interposed in said plumbing pipe having a main flowpassage therein in axial alignment with said plumbing pipe, a ball valvesupported on the front side wall of said casing and out of the path ofthe main flow passage, a spray arm attached to the front of said ballvalve, said casing having a diverter flow passage therein extendingbetween said main flow passage and said ball valve, said spray armmovable between a vertical and horizontal position at the front of saidplumbing pipe to rotate said ball valve to open or close said diverterpassage to said spray arm, and sealing means between said ball valve andsaid casing side wall, comprising a dish-shaped member in which saidball valve is slidable, said sealing member having a diverter flowpassage therein in alignment with said casing diverter passage in thehorizontal position of said spray arm.

12. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which saidcasing has a slot therein provided with stop means for limiting thevertical and horizontal positions of said spray arm, said spray armmovable in an up and down position in said casing slot.

13. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which thecasing and ball valve are provided with horizontal disposed cooperativepivoting means to confine the rotation of said ball valve to a verticalmovement only.

14. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which thecasing is provided with means on its rear side and opposite the divertervalve member for rigidly supporting the apparatus from a wall surface.

1. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, atoilet bowl, a flush valve for flushing said toilet bowl and a flushpipe connecting said flush valve with said toilet bowl, said flush valveand said flush pipe being arranged in vertical axial alignment and withthe center line of said toilet bowl, a diverter valve mechanisminterposed in said flush pipe and having an operating portion arrangedon the front side of said flush pipe, said operating portion including aball type valve having a spray arm projecting therefrom from the frontside of said flush pipe and movable between a vertical position from thefront side of said flush pipe to a horizontal position directly over thecenter portion of said toilet bowl, means in said ball valve fordiverting a portion of the flushing water through said spray arm whenthe spray arm is moved into the horizontal position and said flush valveis operated, means in said ball valve for shutting off the flow of waterthrough said spray arm when the spray arm is moved into the verticalposition, and means for supporting said operating portion, said sprayarm, and said ball valve entirely from the front side of said flushpipe.
 2. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans comprising in combination,a toilet bowl, a flush valve for flushing said toilet bowl and a flushpipe connecting said flush valve with said toilet bowl, said flush pipebeing in direct vertical alignment between said flush valve and thecenter line of said toilet bowl, together with a diverter valvemechanism interposed in said flush pipe between said flush valve andsaid toilet bowl, said diverter valve mechanism being mounted on thefront side of said flush pipe and including a ball valve and a spray armattached thereto extending from the front side of said flush pipe, saidspray arm movable from a vertical position on the front side of saidflush pipe to a horizontal position directly over the center of saidtoilet bowl, and means in said ball valve for diverting a portion of thewater flow from said flush pipe into said spray arm in the horizontalposition of said spray arm, and for shutting off the water flow in saidspray arm in the vertical position of said spray arm.
 3. In an apparatusfor rinsing bedpans comprising in combination, a flush valve forflushing a toilet bowl and a flush pipe connecting the flUsh valve andsaid toilet bowl, said flush pipe being in direct axial and verticalalignment between said flush valve and on a line through the center ofthe toilet bowl, a diverter valve mechanism supported upon the frontside of said flush pipe including a rotatable valve member having aspray arm projecting from the front side thereof and from the front ofsaid flush pipe, said spray arm effective to move said valve member to aposition where a portion of the water flow through said flush tube isdiverted through the spray arm into the toilet bowl, and to a positionwhere the water flow is shut off, and sealing means between said valvemember and said flush pipe.
 4. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpanscomprising in combination, a toilet bowl, a flush valve for flushingsaid toilet bowl and a flush pipe connecting said flush valve and saidtoilet bowl, said flush valve and said flush pipe being in verticalaxial alignment and in line with the center line of said toilet bowl, adiverter valve mechanism interposed in said flush pipe and in alignmenttherewith, said diverter valve mechanism including a casing having aball valve member rotatable therein located at the front side of saidflush pipe, and a spray arm attached to the ball valve member on thefront side thereof for opening and closing said ball valve member, saidspray arm movable from a vertical to a horizontal position from thefront side of said flush pipe, said casing having a slot therein throughwhich said spray arm projects and is movable therein, said slotproviding a stop at each end for limiting the opening and closingmovement of said spray arm.
 5. A bedpan rinsing apparatus for use with aflush valve and a toilet bowl and installed in a flush pipe extendingbetween the flush valve and the toilet bowl, said flush valve and saidflush pipe being arranged in vertical axial alignment and with thecenter line of said toilet bowl, said bedpan rinsing apparatuscomprising a casing supported in said flush pipe and having a main flowpassage in vertical alignment with said flush pipe, and a diverter flowpassage extending through the front wall of said casing, a sphericalball valve supported on the outside and the front wall of said casing,said ball valve having a flow passage therein, a spray arm supported onsaid ball valve and having a flow passage therein connected to the flowpassage in said ball valve, said spray arm effective to rotate said ballvalve in said casing to a position to align the flow passage in saidball valve with the diverter flow passage in said casing, said spray armalso effective to rotate said ball valve to a position to shut off theflow passages between said ball valve and said casing.
 6. The bedpanrinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which the spray arm ismovable to a horizontal position to rotate the ball valve and align thecasing diverter flow passage with the flow passage in the ball valve andcause a spray to be emitted from the spray arm.
 7. The bedpan rinsingapparatus as specified in claim 5 in which the spray arm is movable to avertical position to rotate the ball valve to shut off the passagebetween the diverter flow passage and the ball valve passage.
 8. Thebedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which the spray armis movable to a horizontal position to rotate the ball valve and alignthe casing diverter flow passage with the flow passage in the ball valveand cause a spray to be emitted from the spray arm, and in which thespray arm is movable to a vertical position to rotate the ball valve toshut off the flow passages between the diverter flow passage and theball valve passage.
 9. The bedpan rising apparatus as claimed in claim 5in which leakproof sealing means are provided between the ball valve andthe casing in all rotated positions of the ball valve, said sealingmeans comprising a dish-shaped member supported in said casing betweensaid casing and said ball valve and within which said ball valve isrotatable, said sealing member having a diverter passage therein whichis closed in the vertical position of said spray arm.
 10. The bedpanrinsing apparatus as specified in claim 5 in which the casing providesan unobstructed flow of water through the flush pipe, and the casingdiverter passage extends from the front side of the casing to the ballvalve.
 11. In a bedpan rinser apparatus supported upon a plumbing pipeincluding a casing interposed in said plumbing pipe having a main flowpassage therein in axial alignment with said plumbing pipe, a ball valvesupported on the front side wall of said casing and out of the path ofthe main flow passage, a spray arm attached to the front of said ballvalve, said casing having a diverter flow passage therein extendingbetween said main flow passage and said ball valve, said spray armmovable between a vertical and horizontal position at the front of saidplumbing pipe to rotate said ball valve to open or close said diverterpassage to said spray arm, and sealing means between said ball valve andsaid casing side wall, comprising a dish-shaped member in which saidball valve is slidable, said sealing member having a diverter flowpassage therein in alignment with said casing diverter passage in thehorizontal position of said spray arm.
 12. The bedpan rinsing apparatusas claimed in claim 11 in which said casing has a slot therein providedwith stop means for limiting the vertical and horizontal positions ofsaid spray arm, said spray arm movable in an up and down position insaid casing slot.
 13. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim11 in which the casing and ball valve are provided with horizontaldisposed cooperative pivoting means to confine the rotation of said ballvalve to a vertical movement only.
 14. The bedpan rinsing apparatus asclaimed in claim 11 in which the casing is provided with means on itsrear side and opposite the diverter valve member for rigidly supportingthe apparatus from a wall surface.